Congress calls for shutdown in Jharkhand over hooch tragedy

The Congress in Jharkhand has called for a shutdown on September 9 in Ranchi to protest the recent deaths from spurious liquor.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a smart city in Ranchi on the same day.

"We have called for a shutdown in Ranchi to protest the deaths of innocent people. The deaths occurred when the state government started selling liquor by opening outlets," Alok Dubey, Jharkhand Congress General Secretary, told IANS.

At least 13 people, including two Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) personnel and one volleyball coach, died after consuming spurious liquor in Ranchi.

People in Ranchi generally prefer to buy liquor from private persons as the government shops are always over-crowded. The illegal liquor here is being sold in the name of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

The call for imposing a complete liquor ban in the state has gathered momentum after the recent deaths.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay said the recent incidents highlight the BJP-led state government's failure and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

He alleged that the failure of the administration and police to curb the sale of illegal liquor has led to deaths of innocent people in the state.

The Jharkhand Vikjas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have also demanded a complete liquor ban in the state.

--IANS

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